We are a pioneer in research and education in the field of nursing science in Finland. Our research addresses the outcomes of nursing in health promotion and in the treatment of long-term health problems. We offer research-based education in diverse learning environments to meet future working life needs both in Finland and globally.
50
Master's degrees annually
6
Doctoral degrees annually
65
Peer-reviewed scientific publications annually
Studies
The Department of Nursing Science offers academic degree studies with working life relevance to educate specialists in social and health care leadership and management, health promotion, and nursing science research, as well as social and health care educators. The major subject studies offered at the Department of Nursing include nursing leadership and management, preventive nursing science, and teacher training in health sciences. In addition, Health Promotion in Nursing Science is offered in English under the Faculty of Health Science’s multidisciplinary and international Master’s Degree Programme in Public Health.
We provide our students with student-centred guidance and flexibility in studying. We apply versatile teaching and learning methods and environments, such as simulation, co-operative learning, and the flipped classroom (FC) approach. Students of nursing science acquire skills needed to operate in multicultural and international work environments. Students who complete a Master’s degree in health sciences will successfully position themselves as experts in diverse and demanding jobs.
Research
Research at the Department of Nursing Science
The Department of Nursing Science research forms the Preventive, Safe and Effective Nursing by Science (PreSENCe —UEF) research program. The PreSENCe —UEF consists of five thematic areas. Overarching focuses in each thematic area are lifespan, effectiveness, multiculturalism, ethics and digitalisation. The research is conducted in multidisciplinary, national and international research groups and networks
Research themes
• Quality and safety in social and health care
• Promotion of wellbeing and prevention and care for long-term health conditions
• Health pedagogy in education and health care
• Leadership in nursing and health care
• Nursing excellence in healthy work environments
Research themes
Research focuses on the quality of care, client, patient and medication safety in social and healthcare. The research topics are related to identifying areas of improvement by analysing contributing factors of incidents and reported risks, safety culture, consequences to health professionals and improving the quality of care. Nursing sensitive quality indicators are also a research topic of the theme.
Contact persons:
Professor Hannele Turunen (client and patient safety culture)
Professor Katri Vehviläinen-Julkunen (client and patient safety, care quality, artificial intelligence)
Professor Tarja Kvist (nursing sensitive quality indicators, quality of care)
Associate professor Marja Härkänen (medication safety, client and patient safety, artificial intelligence)
University researcher Reeta Lamminpää (safety in childbirth)
Post doctoral researcher Mina Azimirad (medical emergency teams)
University teacher Tiina Syyrilä (medication safety, communication, client and patient safety, artificial intelligence)
Research focuses on promoting effective health interventions throughout the lifespan addressing the needs of individuals and families with long-term health conditions. Topics include care for the ageing population, memory diseases, mental health, functional health, and other conditions. Using innovative approaches, research is conducted collaboratively with citizens, patients, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders in national and international collaboration.
Contact persons:
Professor Tarja Kvist (cancer patients’ care and resilience)
Professor Katri Vehviläinen-Julkunen (maternal health, families, maternal and childhealth services)
Professor Terhi Saaranen (occupational well-being in the different contexts)
University lecturer Kristiina Heinonen (multiple-birth families (twins, triplets or more))
University lecturer Tarja Välimäki (memory diseases, dementia, caregiving and older adults' health care)
University lecturer Päivi Kankkunen (pain assessment and alleviation in different health care contexts)
University lecturer Lauri Kuosmanen (patients and clients with mental health challenges, promoting the general well-being of citizens)
University researcher Marja Hult (health and well-being of unemployed persons)
University lecturer Anja Terkamo-Moisio (participation and risk-behavior of adolecents in after-care, encountering of the vulnerable groups)
University teacher Outi Savolainen (wellbeing and mental health promotion of the children)
Research in health pedagogy is carried out in clinical and educational settings. The research topics focus on the harmonization and development of the education of nurse educators in Europe and worldwide. In addition, information is produced on the occupational well-being and recovery from work of educators in different fields and levels of education. The research focuses on collaborative, multidisciplinary, digital and simulation-learning and their methods.
Contact persons:
Professor Terhi Saaranen (health pedagogy, simulation learning, occupational well-being)
Professor Katri Vehviläinen-Julkunen (gamification)
Associate professor Marja Härkänen (gamification, virtual reality)
University lecturer Ari Haaranen (health pedagogy, interprofessional education)
Research focuses on empowering and effective nursing leadership in social- and healthcare. The research paths are nursing leadership and its associations with staff, patient, and organisational outcomes, as well as the leadership skills of nurse leaders. The research topics include, among others, the leadership styles, content of nursing leadership, leadership of work-related wellbeing and knowledge, remote leadership and themes related to leadership education in nursing.
Contact persons:
Professor Arja Häggman-Laitila (leadership, effectiveness)
Professor Tarja Kvist (transformational leadership)
University lecturer Anu Nurmeksela (nursing leadership and nursing outcomes)
University lecturer Anja Terkamo-Moisio (empowering and effective nursing leadership, remote leadership, leadership education)
Research focuses on multicultural work environments in health care, identifying the factors supporting nursing professionals' engagement and willingness to continue at work. The research topics are nursing shortage, nursing professionals' wellbeing, resilience, ethical stress and autonomy. Continuing professional development of nurses, their competencies and working life quality of nurses are studied topics.
Contact persons:
Professor Tarja Kvist (nurses' wellbeing)
University lecturer Krista Jokiniemi (advanced practice nursing, clinical nurse specialist competence)
University researcher Marja Hult (Employment quality in nursing)
Our research groups
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Postal address
University of Eastern Finland
Department of Nursing Science
P.O. Box 1627
FI-70211 KUOPIO
FINLAND
Street address
Yliopistonrinne 3
Canthia building, B wing, 3rd floor